WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNICATING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE POLICY

Thesis Overview

<p><br>1.0 Background to the Study<br>Since the evolution of the concept of development, participation has become a popular discourse in Development communication. Development experts have come to realize the need for the stakeholders to be associated with all phases of development intervention either directly or indirectly. This singular act has necessitated the quest for people to be active participants in development. People‟s participation is at the heart of achieving success in any development effort, either at the primary level or the secondary level. The incorporation of people‟s knowledge and perspectives into development research process could enhance relevance of development effort.<br>Over the decades, national and international agencies have developed and are still developing programmes to assist in effective communication and participation of people most especially that of women in development intervention. Frantic efforts at different levels have been made to address the marginalisation of women in development<br>intervention; but unfortunately these efforts have yielded little or no result. Despite the efforts of many agencies and organizations, and numerous inspiring successful story on paper, the picture is still disheartening, as it will take the active participation of women in the decision making environment in health policy formulation and communication to bring about sustainable development.<br>Even though, the poor and marginalized have always been at the center of development communication, they are however, most often the subject of communication rather than the originators. Women have poor access to communication and the channels of communication respectively rural women fit into this group<br></p>